17 December 2013

What you may not know about the Christmas story, Part 2 of 3


http://www.stmary-dallas.org/stmary/images/stories/wise-men.jpg
--The real birthday of the Savior (using our modern 12-month calendar and modern revelation) is April 6th.  

--Matthew 1 tells the story of Joseph and the birth of Christ, while Luke 1-2 tells Mary's story.

--Gabriel appeared to Mary, Mary's cousin's husband, Zacharias, and Daniel (in the Old Testament - see Daniel 8:16 and 9:21).  Angels are messengers sent from our Heavenly Father.  

--Luke is writing his detailed and full account of the birth of Christ to his friend Theophilus. (Luke 1:1-4)

--To be 'taxed' as used in Luke 2 is to be taken account of - enrolled or registered.

--For Caesar Augustus, he did not call for the world to be taxed, but his world which is was empire.

--Luke 2:7 states that there was no room for Joseph and Mary in the inn, but we know that it should read, "inns." 

--The wise men saw the Christ child when he was about 2 years old. The number of wise men is actually not known, we get the three from the three gifts. 

--By having both educated men who could have audience with a king and also shepherds, Heavenly Father prepared that people from all walks of life could hear of Christ's birth and Divinity.


--Frankincense 'was imported into Judaea from Arabia. It was an ingredient in the holy incense for sacrificial purposes and was highly valued as a perfume.' (Bible Dictionary, page 676) 

--Myrrh was used 'as a perfume and for embalming. It was obtained from various thorny shrubs of the dry districts of Arabia and eastern Africa.' (Bible Dictionary, page 736)